Minimal adsorption of diesel exhaust pollutants onto polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide 6,6 microfibers under simulated exposure conditions

Minimal adsorption of diesel exhaust pollutants onto polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide 6,6 microfibers under simulated exposure conditions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Short Report Minimal adsorption of diesel exhaust pollutants onto polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide 6,6 microfibers under simulated exposure conditions Elena M. Höppener, Jeremy T. Cudia, Fransien Dijk, Thijs J. Nijdam, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8402786/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Plastic microfibers are widely present in the environment and are increasingly recognized as a potential human health hazard, particularly via inhalation. Beyond their intrinsic material properties, these synthetic fibers may adsorb other airborne pollutants, acquiring a so-called 'pollutant corona' that could exacerbate respiratory toxicity. This study aimed to explore whether polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide 6,6 (nylon) microfibers, representative of those commonly found in indoor and urban air, accumulate diesel exhaust pollutants under controlled exposure conditions. Precision-cut reference fibers were exposed to diluted diesel exhaust fumes for durations up to 180 minutes using a custom-built flow setup. Surface morphology and composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and micro-Fourier transform infrared microscopy (µ-FTIR). Additionally, diesel-exposed fibers were screened for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Analyses confirmed the chemical identity and geometry of both PET and nylon microfibers. SEM/EDX revealed the presence of metallic contaminants (primarily Cu and Al) on both unexposed and diesel exhaust-exposed fibers, but no increase in particle load or soot deposition was observed after diesel exposure. GC-MS analysis of fibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes showed no detectable levels of any of the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons prioritized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Visual inspection of the fibers revealed no discoloration, further suggesting minimal deposition of diesel exhaust-related material. These findings suggest that, under controlled exposure conditions, textile-derived microfibers may have limited capacity to adsorb diesel exhaust pollutants. This challenges assumptions about their role as passive pollutant carriers in the air and underscores the importance of assessing their health risks based on actual surface chemistry rather than theoretical adsorption potential. Microplastics Nanoplastics Nylon Pollutant corona SEM-EDX Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons µ-FTIR Inhalation Environmental toxicology Surface contamination Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Introduction Plastic pollution is a growing concern due to its ubiquity and persistence in natural environments. Among plastic contaminants, synthetic microfibers shed from textiles during wear, washing, and drying constitute a significant portion of airborne microplastics ( 1 , 2 ). These fibers, particularly those made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (nylon), are commonly detected in indoor and urban air ( 3 – 9 ). While ingestion, dermal exposure, and inhalation all contribute to microplastic uptake ( 10 ), recent evidence points to inhalation being the dominant pathway ( 5 , 11 , 12 ). Several studies have indeed demonstrated penetration of microfibers into human lung tissue ( 13 – 17 ), with recent estimates suggesting inhalation of roughly 68,000 particles per day ( 12 ). Moreover, once internalized, these microfibers can potentially cause direct mechanical irritation or inflammation while also serving as vectors for environmental pollutants ( 14 , 18 , 19 ). As such, their complex interactions with contaminants raises concerns regarding their effects on human health. Diesel exhaust is a well-known air pollutant containing a complex mixture of gases and particles, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The US Environmental Protection Agency prioritizes the regulation of 16 PAHs due to their toxic properties and environmental abundance ( 20 ). Adsorption of PAHs onto various microparticle types has previously been observed upon exposure to PAH-contaminated water ( 21 , 22 ); however, understanding of whether similar interactions occur under atmospheric conditions is lacking. The possibility that airborne microfibers could acquire a pollutant corona through interaction with diesel exhaust is of considerable toxicological relevance as the adsorption of soot, heavy metals, or organic compounds onto plastic surfaces potentially alters their bioavailability and toxicity. Additionally, analysis of airborne microplastics from two car cabins found polyamide as a substantial particle fraction ( 12 ). While this sample size limits generalizability, it supports the need for discussion of how diesel exhaust may interact with microplastics, such as in vehicle environments. Despite these concerns, empirical data on the interaction between airborne pollutants and textile-derived microfibers remains scarce. This study was therefore designed to examine this gap by investigating whether PET and nylon microfibers adsorb diesel pollutants under simulated exposure conditions. Materials and methods Microfiber materials Polyamide 6,6 (#AM325705, Goodfellow, Huntingdon, UK) and polyester terephthalate (#ES305710, Goodfellow) microfibers with defined sizes were prepared following the precision-cutting method published by Cole et al. ( 13 ). The nylon fibers were prepared with a nominal filament diameter of 10 µm, cut to a length of approximately 30 µm. PET fibers were prepared with a nominal filament diameter of 14 µm, cut to a length of approximately 50 µm. FTIR measurements Micro Fourier transform infrared (µ-FTIR) microscopy was employed to confirm polymer identity and assess sample heterogeneity of unexposed fibers. Transmission mode was used to determine bulk composition, while reflection mode enabled individual fiber analysis (~ 100 fibers per sample). Spectra were acquired using a Thermo Nicolet iN10 microscope (4000–675 cm⁻¹, 8 cm⁻¹ resolution). Transmission samples were compressed in a diamond microcell; reflection samples were filtered onto gold-coated 0.8 µm polycarbonate (TJ Environmental) filters and analyzed directly. Diesel exposure testing Nylon (10x30 µm) and PET (14x50 µm) microfibers were stored in Eppendorf tubes (~ 50–60 mg each) after cutting and distributed over 10 mL glass vials (~ 5 mg per vial) using a microbalance. Fibers were then exposed to diluted diesel exhaust for 5, 30, or 180 minutes. A schematic of the exposure setup is shown in the supplemental data (Figure S1). Diesel exhaust was generated using a Kipor ID10 two-cylinder, water-cooled diesel generator operated at 4.5 kW with standard B7 diesel fuel. Exhaust was diluted 12-fold using an Airvac TD110HSS eductor to prevent moisture condensation. The diluted diesel exhaust (~ 10 L/min) was split via a manifold into four exposure lines (~ 50 mL/min per vial) and two quartz filter lines (Pall Tissuquartz 2500QAT-UP), where the latter served as internal exposure controls (Fig. 1 ). The setup was adjusted with compressed dry air to prevent fiber displacement. Glass pipettes delivered diesel exhaust ~ 5–10 mm above the fiber bed. Vials were gently agitated during exposure to redistribute fibers. No condensation was observed. Post-exposure, vials were stored on dry ice and transferred to a -20°C freezer prior to analyses. SEM/EDX analysis Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was used to characterize microfiber surface morphology and screened for adsorbed pollutants. SEM images were recorded using a Tescan MAIA III GMH field emission microscope equipped with a Bruker X-Flash 30 mm² silicon drift detector, operated at 15 kV acceleration voltage. Microfibers were mounted on aluminum stubs with carbon-coated tape and sputter-coated with ~ 10 nm carbon using a Quorum Q150T evaporator. Comparative analyses were performed between pristine and diesel-exposed samples (0, 5, 30, and 180 min exposure) to assess changes in elemental composition and morphology. GC-MS analysis for PAHs Sixteen PAHs, listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, were selected as targets for PAH analysis. To evaluate PAH adsorption, microfibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes were treated with acetonitrile ( 24 ) (2 × 1000 µL, 48 h shaking) to extract PAHs. Combined supernatants were concentrated to 1000 µL and analyzed using an Agilent 7000 series GC-MS system with dual DB-5MS UI columns (15 m × 250 µm × 0.25 µm). Injection volume was 1 µL with 10 ng/mL 1,2,3,4-tetrachloronaphthalene as the injection standard. An external standard (50 ng/mL, NIST 1647f) was used for quantification. No internal standard was applied due to potential PAH contamination. Temperature program details are provided in the supplemental data (Tables S1-S2 and Figure S2). Results Polymer confirmation of produced microplastic fibers Nylon and PET microfibers were subject to µ-FTIR analysis to confirm polymer identity. The recorded IR spectrum of nylon microfibers (Fig. 1 A) shows the characteristic absorbance peaks of nylon (3302 cm − 1 , N-H stretch; 2934 cm − 1 , C-H stretch; 1632 cm − 1 , C = O stretch sec. amide; 1202 cm − 1 , C-N bend). Lower peak intensities were observed compared to the reference FTIR spectrum of nylon-6,6 (Figure S3). The IR spectrum of PET microfibers was also recorded (Fig. 1 B) showing the characteristic absorbance peaks of PET (2968 cm − 1 , C-H stretch; 1723 cm − 1 , C = O stretch; 1246 cm − 1 , C-O stretch aromatic ester; 729 cm − 1 benzene derivative). The reference FTIR spectrum is shown in the supplemental data (Figure S4). No evidence of diesel particle absorption onto microplastic fibers After fibers were exposed to diesel exhaust fumes, the quartz filters present in the diesel exhaust exposure setup as internal exposure controls, were colored black (Fig. 2 , left panel). The nylon and PET microfibers did not show a color change and remained their original color after exposure (Fig. 2 , right panel). To study adsorption of diesel exhaust particles onto microplastic fibers, a detailed SEM/EDX comparison was made between the surface of unexposed microfibers and microfibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes (Figs. 3 and 4 ). Nylon microfibers that were not exposed to diesel exhaust fumes contained contaminants on their surfaces (Fig. 3 A and B) and EDX analyses showed these mostly consisted of metals, notably copper and aluminum (Fig. 3 C). Similar contaminants were found on diesel-exposed fibers (Fig. 3 D and E) and their EDX profile was almost identical to the contaminants found on unexposed fibers (Fig. 3 F). Similarly, unexposed and diesel exhaust-exposed PET fibers also contained contaminants on their surfaces (Fig. 4 A-B and D-E) with EDX analysis again indicating metals such as copper and aluminum (Fig. 4 C and F), with no differences in composition between unexposed and exposed fibers. Additionally, no particulate matter in both the nylon and PET samples were found that exhibit the morphology of soot particles. No evidence of PAH absorption onto microplastic fibers To investigate if any diesel exhaust components which were not readily visible had adsorbed onto the fibers, we screened for the presence of 16 types of PAHs via GC-MS. For all 16 PAHs, the measured concentrations were below the detection limit of 1 ng. Since no PAHs were detected on the fibers with the longest exposure time to diesel exhaust, we did not assess PAHs on microfibers exposed for shorter times. Discussion Microplastic fibers are increasingly recognized as emerging airborne pollutants, with the potential to cause direct health effects while also acting as carriers of toxic substances, such as combustion-related particles and chemicals ( 25 , 26 ). With inhalation being a dominant entry route ( 5 , 12 ), chronic respiratory exposure to such particles may lead to impaired lung functioning and potential onset of respiratory diseases ( 27 – 29 ). Toxicity testing of PAH-adsorbed microparticles on lung cells consistently show more cell death, mitochondrial dysregulation, and oxidative stress ( 30 , 31 ), suggesting high public health relevance and the urgency for further assessment of pollutant sorption dynamics. Molecular modeling suggests that pollutant adsorption is driven by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, and is also modulated by various environmental conditions such as pH and ionic strength, especially in aqueous media ( 32 , 33 ). These dynamics for organic pollutants remain under-characterized in atmospheric environments, with existing literature mostly in the context of heavy metals ( 34 ). However, the hypothesis that microplastics may adsorb components of diesel exhaust had not yet been tested under controlled experimental conditions to date. In this study, we therefore investigated whether PET and nylon microfibers accumulate diesel-derived pollutants when exposed to diluted exhaust fumes for up to 180 minutes. µ-FTIR spectra of nylon and PET were consistent with their respective reference spectra, however, SEM/EDX and GC-MS revealed no measurable increase in surface-bound pollutants such as PAHs, soot-like particles, or diesel-specific elemental signatures. The only surface contaminants observed were metals (Cu, Al) that were also present on unexposed fibers. This suggests either pre-existing contamination of the supplied fibers, or background contamination from the cryostat-cutting process ( 23 ). The absence of a detectable PAH signal may reflect a low intrinsic affinity of these fibers for the components of diesel exhaust. Alternatively, the exposure conditions used in this setup may not have facilitated adsorption of pollutants onto the fiber surfaces. Environmental microplastics are continuously exposed to various weathering conditions; among which UV irradiation is an important one ( 35 , 36 ). Two independent studies have demonstrated UV-induced surface degradation of polyamide and PET microfibers in water. Both studies consistently noted prominent formation of micropores in polyamide fibers and less so in PET fibers, which were more prone to fragmentation ( 37 , 38 ). The surface area increase via weathering may promote adsorptive capacity, although this has not been tested yet. Subsequent studies characterizing the adsorption of specific pollutants onto microplastics will have to factor in weathering to reflect more accurate environmental conditions. Other limitations of this study include the relatively low exhaust flow rate, constrained exposure duration, and potential background contamination from fiber preparation methods. Nonetheless, these conditions were chosen to mimic realistic environmental exposures. Our findings suggest that under realistic, low-flow exposure scenarios, newly generated PET and nylon microfibers may not serve as major passive carriers of diesel-associated pollutants. This challenges assumptions that such fibers inevitably form a pollutant corona in polluted air and emphasizes the importance of empirical validation when evaluating their environmental and health relevance. Rather than relying on theoretical interactions or indirect evidence, assessing the actual surface chemistry of environmental microplastics remains essential for accurate risk assessment. Declarations Availability of data and materials Datasets supporting the conclusions of this study are included within the manuscript and can be made available by the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interest. Funding This work was funded by the ZonMw Microplastics and Health grant 458001013 and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO Open Competition grant 09120242410075. Author contributions IMK and BNM designed the experiments; EMH, FvD, and TJN performed experiments and generated data; EMH, FvD, TJN, and JC analyzed data; IMK and BNM supervised analyses; JC and EMH wrote the manuscript; All authors critically read and commented on the manuscript; BNM and IMK acquired funding for the project. Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process During the preparation of this work the author(s) used ChatGPT in order to remove English language and grammar mistakes. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication. References O’Brien S, Rauert C, Ribeiro F, Okoffo ED, Burrows SD, O’Brien JW, et al. 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Sample Passports MOMENTUM2.0 Test Materials. 2025 Dec 3 [cited 2025 Dec 10]; Available from: https://zenodo.org/records/17804546 Sørensen L, Groven AS, Hovsbakken IA, Del Puerto O, Krause DF, Sarno A, et al. UV degradation of natural and synthetic microfibers causes fragmentation and release of polymer degradation products and chemical additives. Sci Total Environ. 2021;755:143170. Sait STL, Sørensen L, Kubowicz S, Vike-Jonas K, Gonzalez SV, Asimakopoulos AG, et al. Microplastic fibres from synthetic textiles: Environmental degradation and additive chemical content. Environ Pollut. 2021;268:115745. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Supplementaldata.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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14:10:27","extension":"html","order_by":20,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":91794,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/362782b199fe1e17fbfc2a5a.html"},{"id":100692474,"identity":"6385e596-2bf0-4c52-bfdc-29a12d4d5b1e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 14:14:52","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":90431,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFTIR spectrum of a nylon microfiber (\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e). FTIR spectrum of a PET microfiber (\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e).\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/668384b92443fc90562eaac4.png"},{"id":100692169,"identity":"d6f9c8d6-4a91-4bfe-9c9b-0b93fa4af07f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 14:10:20","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1032761,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLeft:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e internal exposure control quartz filters after diesel exhaust exposure. \u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRight: \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eMicroplastic fibers after diesel exhaust exposure.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/e00e2ff4d41bcbf3da58608b.png"},{"id":100691390,"identity":"6450628a-a913-4958-a583-9f96a4dab8be","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 14:06:24","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":389288,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSEM images of unexposed 10μm x 30μm nylon microfibers (\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA, B\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e) with a\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003ecorresponding EDX spectrum\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e(\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e). \u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eSEM images of 10μm x 30μm nylon microfibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes (\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD, E\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e) with a\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003ecorresponding EDX spectrum\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e(\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eF\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e).\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/bdf3369278dcb677dcbd0410.png"},{"id":100691800,"identity":"d64286a2-9884-4ed2-880e-062c64fc253e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 14:07:33","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":403253,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSEM images of unexposed 14μm x 50μm PET microfibers (\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA, B\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e) with a\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003ecorresponding EDX spectrum\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e(\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eC\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e). \u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eSEM images of 14μm x 50μm PET microfibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes (\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD, E\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e) with a\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003ecorresponding EDX spectrum\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e(\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eF\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e).\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/b9c5adfb5c932ed176ed270e.png"},{"id":106991024,"identity":"03bf2785-30ee-45f4-83a1-57c0f4fe4723","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-15 13:59:02","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2338188,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/bdcecbc1-f7f0-4c39-a32c-a6d5f564ac67.pdf"},{"id":100691315,"identity":"1642431e-0cb4-42ce-bbcc-b8bb69d1b041","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-20 14:05:50","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":416081,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Supplementaldata.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8402786/v1/00990e887bcc105e26eb27e9.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Minimal adsorption of diesel exhaust pollutants onto polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide 6,6 microfibers under simulated exposure conditions","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003ePlastic pollution is a growing concern due to its ubiquity and persistence in natural environments. Among plastic contaminants, synthetic microfibers shed from textiles during wear, washing, and drying constitute a significant portion of airborne microplastics (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). These fibers, particularly those made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (nylon), are commonly detected in indoor and urban air (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR4 CR5 CR6 CR7 CR8\" citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e). While ingestion, dermal exposure, and inhalation all contribute to microplastic uptake (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e), recent evidence points to inhalation being the dominant pathway (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e). Several studies have indeed demonstrated penetration of microfibers into human lung tissue (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR14 CR15 CR16\" citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e), with recent estimates suggesting inhalation of roughly 68,000 particles per day (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e). Moreover, once internalized, these microfibers can potentially cause direct mechanical irritation or inflammation while also serving as vectors for environmental pollutants (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e). As such, their complex interactions with contaminants raises concerns regarding their effects on human health.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiesel exhaust is a well-known air pollutant containing a complex mixture of gases and particles, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The US Environmental Protection Agency prioritizes the regulation of 16 PAHs due to their toxic properties and environmental abundance (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e). Adsorption of PAHs onto various microparticle types has previously been observed upon exposure to PAH-contaminated water (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e); however, understanding of whether similar interactions occur under atmospheric conditions is lacking. The possibility that airborne microfibers could acquire a pollutant corona through interaction with diesel exhaust is of considerable toxicological relevance as the adsorption of soot, heavy metals, or organic compounds onto plastic surfaces potentially alters their bioavailability and toxicity. Additionally, analysis of airborne microplastics from two car cabins found polyamide as a substantial particle fraction (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e). While this sample size limits generalizability, it supports the need for discussion of how diesel exhaust may interact with microplastics, such as in vehicle environments. Despite these concerns, empirical data on the interaction between airborne pollutants and textile-derived microfibers remains scarce. This study was therefore designed to examine this gap by investigating whether PET and nylon microfibers adsorb diesel pollutants under simulated exposure conditions.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Materials and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMicrofiber materials\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolyamide 6,6 (#AM325705, Goodfellow, Huntingdon, UK) and polyester terephthalate (#ES305710, Goodfellow) microfibers with defined sizes were prepared following the precision-cutting method published by Cole \u003cem\u003eet al.\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e). The nylon fibers were prepared with a nominal filament diameter of 10 \u0026micro;m, cut to a length of approximately 30 \u0026micro;m. PET fibers were prepared with a nominal filament diameter of 14 \u0026micro;m, cut to a length of approximately 50 \u0026micro;m.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFTIR measurements\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMicro Fourier transform infrared (\u0026micro;-FTIR) microscopy was employed to confirm polymer identity and assess sample heterogeneity of unexposed fibers. Transmission mode was used to determine bulk composition, while reflection mode enabled individual fiber analysis (~\u0026thinsp;100 fibers per sample). Spectra were acquired using a Thermo Nicolet iN10 microscope (4000\u0026ndash;675 cm⁻\u0026sup1;, 8 cm⁻\u0026sup1; resolution). Transmission samples were compressed in a diamond microcell; reflection samples were filtered onto gold-coated 0.8 \u0026micro;m polycarbonate (TJ Environmental) filters and analyzed directly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDiesel exposure testing\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNylon (10x30 \u0026micro;m) and PET (14x50 \u0026micro;m) microfibers were stored in Eppendorf tubes (~\u0026thinsp;50\u0026ndash;60 mg each) after cutting and distributed over 10 mL glass vials (~\u0026thinsp;5 mg per vial) using a microbalance. Fibers were then exposed to diluted diesel exhaust for 5, 30, or 180 minutes. A schematic of the exposure setup is shown in the supplemental data (Figure S1).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiesel exhaust was generated using a Kipor ID10 two-cylinder, water-cooled diesel generator operated at 4.5 kW with standard B7 diesel fuel. Exhaust was diluted 12-fold using an Airvac TD110HSS eductor to prevent moisture condensation. The diluted diesel exhaust (~\u0026thinsp;10 L/min) was split via a manifold into four exposure lines (~\u0026thinsp;50 mL/min per vial) and two quartz filter lines (Pall Tissuquartz 2500QAT-UP), where the latter served as internal exposure controls (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The setup was adjusted with compressed dry air to prevent fiber displacement.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlass pipettes delivered diesel exhaust\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;5\u0026ndash;10 mm above the fiber bed. Vials were gently agitated during exposure to redistribute fibers. No condensation was observed. Post-exposure, vials were stored on dry ice and transferred to a -20\u0026deg;C freezer prior to analyses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSEM/EDX analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) was used to characterize microfiber surface morphology and screened for adsorbed pollutants. SEM images were recorded using a Tescan MAIA III GMH field emission microscope equipped with a Bruker X-Flash 30 mm\u0026sup2; silicon drift detector, operated at 15 kV acceleration voltage. Microfibers were mounted on aluminum stubs with carbon-coated tape and sputter-coated with ~\u0026thinsp;10 nm carbon using a Quorum Q150T evaporator. Comparative analyses were performed between pristine and diesel-exposed samples (0, 5, 30, and 180 min exposure) to assess changes in elemental composition and morphology.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGC-MS analysis for PAHs\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSixteen PAHs, listed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, were selected as targets for PAH analysis. To evaluate PAH adsorption, microfibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes were treated with acetonitrile (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e) (2 \u0026times; 1000 \u0026micro;L, 48 h shaking) to extract PAHs. Combined supernatants were concentrated to 1000 \u0026micro;L and analyzed using an Agilent 7000 series GC-MS system with dual DB-5MS UI columns (15 m \u0026times; 250 \u0026micro;m \u0026times; 0.25 \u0026micro;m). Injection volume was 1 \u0026micro;L with 10 ng/mL 1,2,3,4-tetrachloronaphthalene as the injection standard. An external standard (50 ng/mL, NIST 1647f) was used for quantification. No internal standard was applied due to potential PAH contamination. Temperature program details are provided in the supplemental data (Tables S1-S2 and Figure S2).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003ePolymer confirmation of produced microplastic fibers\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eNylon and PET microfibers were subject to \u0026micro;-FTIR analysis to confirm polymer identity. The recorded IR spectrum of nylon microfibers (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003eA) shows the characteristic absorbance peaks of nylon (3302 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, N-H stretch; 2934 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, C-H stretch; 1632 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, C\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;O stretch sec. amide; 1202 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, C-N bend). Lower peak intensities were observed compared to the reference FTIR spectrum of nylon-6,6 (Figure S3). The IR spectrum of PET microfibers was also recorded (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003eB) showing the characteristic absorbance peaks of PET (2968 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, C-H stretch; 1723 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, C\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;O stretch; 1246 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, C-O stretch aromatic ester; 729 cm\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e benzene derivative). The reference FTIR spectrum is shown in the supplemental data (Figure S4).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNo evidence of diesel particle absorption onto microplastic fibers\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter fibers were exposed to diesel exhaust fumes, the quartz filters present in the diesel exhaust exposure setup as internal exposure controls, were colored black (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, left panel). The nylon and PET microfibers did not show a color change and remained their original color after exposure (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, right panel).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo study adsorption of diesel exhaust particles onto microplastic fibers, a detailed SEM/EDX comparison was made between the surface of unexposed microfibers and microfibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNylon microfibers that were not exposed to diesel exhaust fumes contained contaminants on their surfaces (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eA and B) and EDX analyses showed these mostly consisted of metals, notably copper and aluminum (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eC). Similar contaminants were found on diesel-exposed fibers (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eD and E) and their EDX profile was almost identical to the contaminants found on unexposed fibers (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eF).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimilarly, unexposed and diesel exhaust-exposed PET fibers also contained contaminants on their surfaces (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003eA-B and D-E) with EDX analysis again indicating metals such as copper and aluminum (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003eC and F), with no differences in composition between unexposed and exposed fibers. Additionally, no particulate matter in both the nylon and PET samples were found that exhibit the morphology of soot particles.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNo evidence of PAH absorption onto microplastic fibers\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo investigate if any diesel exhaust components which were not readily visible had adsorbed onto the fibers, we screened for the presence of 16 types of PAHs via GC-MS. For all 16 PAHs, the measured concentrations were below the detection limit of 1 ng. Since no PAHs were detected on the fibers with the longest exposure time to diesel exhaust, we did not assess PAHs on microfibers exposed for shorter times.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eMicroplastic fibers are increasingly recognized as emerging airborne pollutants, with the potential to cause direct health effects while also acting as carriers of toxic substances, such as combustion-related particles and chemicals (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e). With inhalation being a dominant entry route (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e), chronic respiratory exposure to such particles may lead to impaired lung functioning and potential onset of respiratory diseases (\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR28\" citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e). Toxicity testing of PAH-adsorbed microparticles on lung cells consistently show more cell death, mitochondrial dysregulation, and oxidative stress (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e), suggesting high public health relevance and the urgency for further assessment of pollutant sorption dynamics. Molecular modeling suggests that pollutant adsorption is driven by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, and is also modulated by various environmental conditions such as pH and ionic strength, especially in aqueous media (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e). These dynamics for organic pollutants remain under-characterized in atmospheric environments, with existing literature mostly in the context of heavy metals (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e). However, the hypothesis that microplastics may adsorb components of diesel exhaust had not yet been tested under controlled experimental conditions to date.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this study, we therefore investigated whether PET and nylon microfibers accumulate diesel-derived pollutants when exposed to diluted exhaust fumes for up to 180 minutes. \u0026micro;-FTIR spectra of nylon and PET were consistent with their respective reference spectra, however, SEM/EDX and GC-MS revealed no measurable increase in surface-bound pollutants such as PAHs, soot-like particles, or diesel-specific elemental signatures. The only surface contaminants observed were metals (Cu, Al) that were also present on unexposed fibers. This suggests either pre-existing contamination of the supplied fibers, or background contamination from the cryostat-cutting process (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe absence of a detectable PAH signal may reflect a low intrinsic affinity of these fibers for the components of diesel exhaust. Alternatively, the exposure conditions used in this setup may not have facilitated adsorption of pollutants onto the fiber surfaces. Environmental microplastics are continuously exposed to various weathering conditions; among which UV irradiation is an important one (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e). Two independent studies have demonstrated UV-induced surface degradation of polyamide and PET microfibers in water. Both studies consistently noted prominent formation of micropores in polyamide fibers and less so in PET fibers, which were more prone to fragmentation (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e). The surface area increase via weathering may promote adsorptive capacity, although this has not been tested yet. Subsequent studies characterizing the adsorption of specific pollutants onto microplastics will have to factor in weathering to reflect more accurate environmental conditions. Other limitations of this study include the relatively low exhaust flow rate, constrained exposure duration, and potential background contamination from fiber preparation methods. Nonetheless, these conditions were chosen to mimic realistic environmental exposures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur findings suggest that under realistic, low-flow exposure scenarios, newly generated PET and nylon microfibers may not serve as major passive carriers of diesel-associated pollutants. This challenges assumptions that such fibers inevitably form a pollutant corona in polluted air and emphasizes the importance of empirical validation when evaluating their environmental and health relevance. Rather than relying on theoretical interactions or indirect evidence, assessing the actual surface chemistry of environmental microplastics remains essential for accurate risk assessment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDatasets supporting the conclusions of this study are included within the manuscript and can be made available by the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was funded by the ZonMw Microplastics and Health grant 458001013 and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO Open Competition grant 09120242410075.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIMK and BNM designed the experiments; EMH, FvD, and TJN performed experiments and generated data; EMH, FvD, TJN, and JC analyzed data; IMK and BNM supervised analyses; JC and EMH wrote the manuscript; All authors critically read and commented on the manuscript; BNM and IMK acquired funding for the project.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeclaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the preparation of this work the author(s) used ChatGPT in order to remove English language and grammar mistakes. 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Environ Pollut. 2021;268:115745.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Microplastics, Nanoplastics, Nylon, Pollutant corona, SEM-EDX, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, µ-FTIR, Inhalation, Environmental toxicology, Surface contamination","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8402786/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8402786/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003ePlastic microfibers are widely present in the environment and are increasingly recognized as a potential human health hazard, particularly via inhalation. Beyond their intrinsic material properties, these synthetic fibers may adsorb other airborne pollutants, acquiring a so-called 'pollutant corona' that could exacerbate respiratory toxicity. This study aimed to explore whether polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide 6,6 (nylon) microfibers, representative of those commonly found in indoor and urban air, accumulate diesel exhaust pollutants under controlled exposure conditions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrecision-cut reference fibers were exposed to diluted diesel exhaust fumes for durations up to 180 minutes using a custom-built flow setup. Surface morphology and composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and micro-Fourier transform infrared microscopy (\u0026micro;-FTIR). Additionally, diesel-exposed fibers were screened for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnalyses confirmed the chemical identity and geometry of both PET and nylon microfibers. SEM/EDX revealed the presence of metallic contaminants (primarily Cu and Al) on both unexposed and diesel exhaust-exposed fibers, but no increase in particle load or soot deposition was observed after diesel exposure. GC-MS analysis of fibers exposed to diesel exhaust for 180 minutes showed no detectable levels of any of the 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons prioritized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Visual inspection of the fibers revealed no discoloration, further suggesting minimal deposition of diesel exhaust-related material.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese findings suggest that, under controlled exposure conditions, textile-derived microfibers may have limited capacity to adsorb diesel exhaust pollutants. This challenges assumptions about their role as passive pollutant carriers in the air and underscores the importance of assessing their health risks based on actual surface chemistry rather than theoretical adsorption potential.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Minimal adsorption of diesel exhaust pollutants onto polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide 6,6 microfibers under simulated exposure conditions","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-20 11:50:15","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8402786/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"6b47c093-623f-4b19-bfc7-0d2295120949","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 20th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-15T13:57:41+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-20 11:50:15","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8402786","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8402786","identity":"rs-8402786","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}